Stray Current Failures and the Real Cost of Inaction: A Review of Transit Infrastructure Cases

Abstract Stray current corrosion remains an often-overlooked threat to buried infrastructure near electrified transit systems. While mitigation is technically feasible, decision-making around implementation is frequently influenced by perceived risk and capital constraints. This paper examines the true cost of inaction through a review of documented failure cases across global transit systems, with a focus on corrosion-related damage to water pipelines, utility crossings, and embedded steel components. Drawing from published reports, industry data, and field experience, the paper quantifies both direct costs such as emergency repairs and replacement, and indirect costs including service disruptions, liability, and public safety impacts. The analysis highlights how inadequate track isolation, aging infrastructure, and lack of early intervention contribute to escalating long-term risks. The paper also explores how data-driven assessments, including potential monitoring and track-to-earth resistance surveys, can support proactive mitigation strategies. By framing the issue within the context of lifecycle asset management and the economics of corrosion, the paper provides practical insight for transit agencies, utility owners, and corrosion professionals. Ultimately, it makes the case that early investment in mitigation is not only a technical solution but also a financially responsible strategy.